Liberians are awaiting results from Tuesday's parliamentary and presidential elections, the country's second polls since the end of a 14-year civil war.

The chairman of Liberia's National Elections Commission, James Fromoyan, says initial results will be released Thursday. Final results are not expected until October 26.

A top official of the U.S.-based Carter Center says the commission did an “exemplary” job organizing the elections.

John Stremlau tells VOA that Carter Center election monitors were concerned about some rhetoric during the campaign, but saw dedication from poll workers and great patience from voters on Tuesday.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is facing a tough fight for a second term, just days after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. In an interview with VOA, her main rival Winston Tubman predicted voters would choose his party, saying it has the “recipe” to unify the country.

If no candidate wins an outright majority, a run-off will be held on November 8.

Critics have questioned the timing of last Friday's announcement of the Nobel prize, which President Sirleaf won along with two other women. They say it could provide her with an unfair boost.

Opponents also criticized Mrs. Sirleaf for her record during the civil war when, for a time, she backed warlord and former president Charles Taylor.

The Liberian leader has come under fire for ignoring last year's recommendations by Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission that she should be banned from public office for 30 years for supporting Mr. Taylor. He is on trial at the International Criminal Court in the Hague for war crimes charges in neighboring Sierra Leone.

Mrs. Sirleaf has acknowledged providing financing to Mr. Taylor but says she stopped when she became aware of his brutal tactics.

Tubman is a nephew of former Liberian President William Tubman.